Trump backs Nexstar’s $6.2 billion takeover of broadcast rival Tegna, a few months after blasting merger of ‘Radical Left Networks’

President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion purchase of broadcast rival Tegna, an apparent reversal from earlier criticism of the deal.

“We need more competition against THE ENEMY, the Fake News National TV Networks,” Trump wrote on social media. “Letting Good Deals get done like Nexstar – Tegna will help knock out the Fake News because there will be more competition. … GET THAT DEAL DONE.”

The acquisition, which Nexstar announced in August and requires regulatory approval, would bring together two companies with significant holdings in local broadcast media. Nexstar oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets nationwide and also runs networks like The CW and NewsNation. Meanwhile, Tegna owns 64 news stations across 51 markets.

In November, Trump had criticized the purchase. “If this would also allow the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I would not be happy,” he wrote then.

But the companies operate independently of the large broadcast networks such as ABC and NBC. In September, Nexstar, along with the right-leaning Sinclair Broadcast Group, suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC late-night ...